| Kimberwicke American Idol |
| We are located just outside of historic and scenic Boston, Massachusetts. We are pet professionals with over 18 years combined animal care experience. We own and operate Go Play!, a successful pet care company. We offer dog daycare, dog walks, pet sitting, professional grooming, dog supplies, and all-levels of Agility & Obedience Instruction. We firmly believe in positive-reinforcement for dogs, and encourage dogs in our program to think and learn without fearing harsh physical corrections. We are very passionate about our business, and screen dogs carefully before accepting them into our daycare program. We believe that a good temperament is the most important quality that a dog can possess. Our own dogs are a part of our daily lives - we live in a small home with a small yard. All of our dogs cuddle on the couch, sleep in our bed, and travel to and from work with us daily. They love coming to work and seeing all of their daycare friends! All of our dogs have been incredibly well-socialized around people, other dogs, cats, etc. We are lucky to live in the suburbs where our dogs have space to run and play, and work in the city where they encounter many different types of people and situations. Our dogs have received the "best of both worlds" in socialization and upbringing and feel at ease anywhere they go. The Jack Russell is the perfect breed for us, but not for everyone. They have a "never give up" attitude, combined with intelligence, a sense of humor, a high prey drive, a love of life, and a great work ethic. Contrary to popular belief, Jack Russells are not supposed to be "hyper", and we do not find our own dogs to be incredibly active at home. Our terriers are all laid-back and content to snuggle on the couch. However, once out in the hunt field or at a terrier trial, they have nothing but work on their minds! This breed should have a calm, confident, firm, and kind owner. Terriers do not do well with an anxious owner, they need a quiet leader that is able to earn their respect without resorting to physical corrections. This breeds needs exercise, training, discipline, and a lot of love to thrive. We alternate between feeding a raw diet, dehydrated raw food, high-quality dry and canned foods, home-cooked meals, and raw bones. We supplement with the help of a pet herbalist and rotate protein sources regularly to avoid stomach intolerance and food allergies. We give our dogs a minimal amount of vaccinations, and regularly titer test to determine immunity rather than over-vaccinate. We also use natural (chemical-free) flea & tick preventatives. We compete with our terriers in JRTCA terrier trials as well as work them in the hunt field. Our dogs have proven themselves in conformation (showing under a judge and being judged on breed standard), and performance events. We strive to produce well-rounded and versatile dogs who make great pets and are a joy to live with. We firmly believe that any Jack Russell used for breeding purposes should show natural instinct and drive in the field. While we are still new to field work, we have taken our JRT's out several times and they have proven to us that they have the desire to work that the breed is known for. We look forward to future visits out in the field with both friends and working judges! There is nothing like watching a good dog have a good time! |
| "YOU have Jack Russell Terriers?" (Said with a mixture of disbelief and disgust!) "Aren't they crazy?" "They are aggressive and way too hyper!" These are just a few reactions from people upon hearing that we have JRTs and are involved with this wonderful breed. These are reactions from veterinarians, dog trainers, and the public! Because we work in the pet profession, (not to mention the pet dog training profession where Golden Retrievers and Labradors dominate), other dog professionals think we must be as crazy as our "rotten" Jack Russells! Usually coming to one of our classes and seeing our well-behaved, well-socialized, and very well-trained dogs is enough to make some people understand that not all JRTs are bad! We were not always involved in JRTs. Jen H. always had dogs, from a very young age. Her family bred Cocker Spaniels, and in addition she has had Golden Retrievers, a German Shorthaired Pointer, a German Shepard mix, a Rottweiler / Airedale mix, and a Pit Bull / Boxer mix. She has worked with a variety of dogs; virtually every breed, and while she will always be drawn to the larger "high powered" breeds, she has a very special place in her heart for these little feisty terriers! Jen P. bought her first dog, Gillian, a (non-show quality) JRT from a breeder who bred dogs to hunt. Having a JRT as a first dog was probably not the best idea, but she rallied through and did a lot of work with Gilly. Once she looked into those adorable little brown eyes, she knew that this breed was the one for her! We currently have a very handsome and sweet Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Monty in addition to our JRTs! He doesn't always understand his more active "siblings", but loves them anyway! Before we can condemn any breed based on its' characteristics, we must first look at what the breed is bred for. Dogs bred for companion purpose or retrieval will have a much different personality than a dog bred to actively hunt, herd, or guard! Unfortunately, many of these hunting, herding, and guard dogs are not given adequate socialization to properly instruct them to safely live around the general public. A dog bred for generations to protect and guard, unless very well-socialized and trained, will have more difficult time living in a busy neighborhood than a dog bred to be a family companion. Many people underestimate the hunting, herding, and protective instincts within their own dogs and do not give them the adequate training and socialization they need. Any dog is capable of biting, in fact, Golden Retrievers top the list of reported dog bites. Over-breeding any breed because of the increase in its popularity can be detrimental to the breed itself. Golden Retrievers have always been consider an ideal family breed - and due to their popularity and inbreeding, many of them do not have the good-natured personalities the breed is known for. Jack Russell Terriers are bred to hunt small quarry - rats, mice, groundhogs, squirrels, fox, raccoon - and that is just to name a few! In order to be a successful hunter, there are certain characteristics that have to be present in a hunting dog. Most importantly, independence. The ability to work away from a human being, to make up one's mind, and to follow through on one's decisions. A good hunter will be cunning, intelligent, and brave. They will try to out-smart their quarry, and be bold enough to follow it underground. They should be extremely athletic and flexible to be able to squeeze into tiny holes and follow each and every twist and turn. They need to have great stamina to chase quarry down and have enough energy to hold it at bay once it's caught! They have a "never give up" attitude, and believe they can win every fight. These characteristics can result in a terrier who, by nature, is intelligent, independent, tough, active, and assertive with other animals. They are, however, not bred to have aggression toward people or other dogs. They do not make wonderful pets for everyone, and are not the ideal family dog for certain families. Before you consider adding a JRT to your life, PLEASE do your research. Meet as many well-bred terriers are you can - go to trials, meet dogs and breeders and see if you think you could give a JRT a good home. A good breeder will explain their breeding goals, carefully pair each puppy with the proper family, and only breed dogs with proper conformation, temperament, and breed traits. These dogs will repay you with their sweetness and endearing qualities, provided they are given enough exercise, mental stimulation, firm yet kind handling, and most importantly, LOVE. We couldn't live without them! |
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| Jennifer Hansen & Jennifer Pierce |
| "Success is not defined by obtaining everything you want, but by enjoying and appreciating everything you have." |
| We are members of all professional organizations, including the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), The National Dog Groomers Association of America (NDGAA), and are certified in Pet First Aid & CPR by the American Red Cross. We are also AKC Canine Good Citizenship Test Evaluators. Additionally, we are members of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America (JRTCA) and a JRTCA-registered breeder. We also are members of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Canada (JRTCC) and the Yankee Jack Russell Terrier Network (YJRTN). |
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| Jennifer Hansen & Jennifer Pierce (339) 223-1002 Ravenwolfjrts@yahoo.com North Reading, Massachusetts, 01864 |
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